A Sword of Gold and Ruin (Special Edition)

The sequel to the masterpiece folk horror high fantasy A Sword of Bronze and Ashes, a lyrical blend of epic myth and daily life.

Kanda and her family are on a quest to rebuild the glory that was Roven. Mother and daughters stand together as a light against the darkness. But mother and daughters both have hands that are stained red with blood. They walk a path that is stranger and more beautiful than even Kanda dared imagine, bright with joy, bitter with grief. Ghosts and monsters dog their footsteps - but the greatest monsters lie in their hearts.

"A Sword of Gold and Ruin continues Anna Smith Spark’s haunting, Celtic-inspired saga with a story as brutal as it is beautiful. [...] a lyrical and unforgettable triumph that blends myth, horror, and the intimate struggles of family."

-- Seattle Book Review

"The mythic world this story is set in is harsh and unforgiving, but also filled with beauty. [...] I really liked the strong female characters that we see in Kanda and her daughters, Sal and Calian. Kanda herself has a duality about her. The attributes she has sway between fierce warrior, teacher, carer and mother, which could be said of most women. Readers will identify with her qualities."

-- Phantasmagoria Magazine

"Finishing A Sword of Gold and Ruin left me stunned just like the first novel. I had to sit with it for a while, because this isn’t the kind of book you close and forget it just crawls under your skin. [...] The prose is something else. Raw, jagged, lyrical sometimes I had to stop and reread because the words were so sharp they made me catch my breath. Other times, it felt like poetry poured straight into my bloodstream. It wasn’t always comfortable reading, but it was honest, and that honesty made it beautiful. This book reminded me why I love Grim Dark fantasy not because of the battles or the monsters (though they’re there, and they’re terrifying), but because it can hold up a mirror to our own grief, resilience, and humanity. I finished it feeling moved, and strangely grateful. For me, A Sword of Gold and Ruin wasn’t just a story it was an experience. One I’ll be carrying around in my head and heart for a long time." -- Waterstones